I’ve done a lot of back-tracking through my research as I’ve worked on the Pryors. I’ve had to do a extreme turn. For years I’ve assumed there was one Samuel Thornton Pryor in Goochland Co., VA. Good grief, there’s actually a whole lot more. So, I think it’s time to share all the Samuels. As usual, open to ideas to make sure everyone is matched up to their correct family.
Col. Samuel Pryor, born about 1698-1699. Married to Prudence Thornton. Recorded in the 1735 Goochland Co. Vestry Records as a processioner. He died about or before 1763, a 1763 deed of Thornton Pryor stated that his father, Samuel, was already deceased.
Samuel Pryor, born about 1700. I see other researchers online have used “A Pryor Family Narrative,” by J. Gatewood Pryor, 1995, to show Col. Samuel Pryor had a son named Samuel. I suspect he did, but not the Samuel Pryor who married Frances Morton Meriwether as derived from this book. A 1777 Will of Samuel Pryor in Goochland County names wife Sarah, sons Samuel, William and John, daughters Sally Payne (Sarah?), Patty (Martha?), and Mary.
Samuel Pryor, born about 1740. Married Frances Morton Meriwether in 1760. He was the son of William Pryor and grandson of Col. Samuel Pryor. There’s a record of an estate of Samuel Pryor inventoried in 1766—I would like to see this record because I suspect it was Col. Samuel Pryor’s estate. A 1768 Chancery Court Case involves Samuel Pryor, executor and administrator of William Pryor’s estate. I think he’s the same Pryor counted on the 1789 Tax List and named in a 1792 Chancery Court Case, Samuel Pryor vs. Henry and Lucy Wood.
Samuel Thornton Pryor. born about 1775. He married Sally Drumright. Their children were Peggy (wife of Richard Clarke), Rebecca (wife of William A Underwood), Samuel Thornton Pryor, Martha W (wife of John M Drumright), Nancy (wife of Degrasse Drumright), and Fanny. This Samuel was named the executor of his father-in-law’s estate (Thomas Drumright) in a 1815 Chancery Court Case. Samuel died before 1835 when another Chancery Court case was filed that named all his children as heirs. I suspect this Samuel.
Is there another Samuel Pryor or is this Samuel Thornton Pryor born about 1775? I’m working with the concept that perhaps Samuel Thornton Pryor b. 1775 was the son of John Pryor and Mary Dennis. John died in Amelia County in 1785 and there is a son named Samuel in his will. John’s daughter, Mary, married Alexander Bolling. There’s a 1797 Chancery Court Case that names both a Samuel Pryor and a Bolling in Goochland County: “Samuel Pryor vs Stephen Southall.” I’m wondering if there were 2 Samuel’s because there’s a will for a Samuel Pryor proved in Amelia Co., May 27, 1790, nameing brothers Richard, Luke and Philip Pryor who were also named in John Pryor’s 1785 will.
Samuel Pryor baptized at St. James Northam in 1762 married Mary Curd and was in Kentucky by 1800. He died around 1812-1813 in Kentucky. Of course he had a son named Samuel (the father of noted judged William S. Pryor).
